Traverse drive for spinning machines



y 1 H. w. BUTTERWORTH, JR., ETA/AL 6 TRAVERSE DRIVE FOR SPINNINGMACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 9, 1935 H. w; BUT I 'ERWORTH, JR.

I TRAVERSE DRIVE FOR SPINNING MACHINES Filed May 9. 195s A j a p \h ,D\h y v J. 1 mW N %N Q w a 11; H xN N N 5% Juiy 31,1934. H. w.IIIBUTTERNNORTH, JR. ErAL 1,968,026

TRAVERSE DRIVE FOR SPINNING MACHINE-S Filed May 9Q 1955 4 Sheets sheet sY 1934. H. w. BUTTERWORTH, JR;

' TRAVERSE DRIVE FOR SPINNING MAQIHIIUEIS Filed May 9, 1955 PatentedJuly 3 1, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRAVERSE DRIVE FOR SPINNINGMACHINES Application May 9, 1933, Serial No. 670,206

13 Claims. (Cl. 7414) This invention relates to a drive for traversemechanisms, and more particularly to a high speed traverse motion.

Traverse motions as applied to winding ma- 5 chines, rayon spinningmachines and the like, must have a uniform, or substantially uniform,motion in reciprocation of the traverse arm. To produce such a motion,it is essential that the movement of the arm be reversed very abruptly.

Such devices, as heretofore produced, have involved the use of cam oroddly shaped gearing, or

a combination of these two elements. Any structure involving the use ofa surface cam practically prohibits a positive drive of the traverse l5mechanism in opposite directions and, accordingly, in many winding andrayon spinning apparatuses gravity is depended upon as a means formaintaining the traverse mechanism in 'operative contact with a camduring a down stroke of this mechanism. This is highly unsatisfactorywhen the mechanism is operated at any appreciable speed for the throw ofthe cam at the points of rapid reversal tend to cause the mechanism toleave the cam and upon reengagement therewith to cause pounding andfailure of proper timing. This failure of the cam at higher speeds hasled to the production of the numerous combination devices above referredto, but in providing such devices resort has always been had to the useof malformed gears sometimes employed in connection with cams and atother times in connection with crank motions- In order that any gear maytruly, or substantially, compensate for the variation in speed resultingfrom the use of an eccentric or crank, the gear must be of unusual shapefor the reversal of motion provided by such a device is difiicult ofcompensation by use of a gear. These oddly shaped gears are extremelyexpensive and, furthermore,

do not coact properly in operation; in other.

words, there is no proper rolling of the gears upon one anOther With theresult that they are subject to high friction losses, to binding, and.

to other ills which reduce the effective life thereof and render thecost of both production and operation excessively high. When employedwith a cam, in order that the gear may have less pronouncedobjectionable features, all of the disadvantages of the cam becomeimmediately attendant.

An important object of this invention is the provision in a device ofthis character of an arrangement producing a uniform reciprocation of atraverse arm without the use of oddly shaped gearing or cams.

A further and more specific object of the invention is the provision ofa drive providing sub.- stantially uniform reciprocation and in whichthe traverse arm is positively driven in its opposite directions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a structure of thischaracter in which, by the use of a single mechanism and withoutreplacement of any of the portions thereof, a variation may be had inthe stroke of the traverse.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device ofthis character in which the construction of all Wearing parts is suchthat thseg may be readily replaced at a relatively low co These andother objects we attain by the construction shown in the accompanyingdrawings wherein, for the purpose of illustration, we have shown apreferred embodiment of our invention and wherein:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view through a traverse drive mechanismconstructed in accordance with our invention;

Fig.2 is a longitudinal sectional view therethrough;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Referringnow more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 generallydesignates a trav- I erse arm mounted for reciprocation through abearing 11. This arm is equipped at its upper end with a scotch yoke 12.Within the slot 13 of this yoke operates a bearing block 14 receiving anactuator at present illustrated as the pin 15 of a crank 16. Quiteobviously, in lieu of crank 16, its direct equivalent, an eccentric,might be employed. Upon operation of the shaft I? hearing crank 16, itwill be obvious that a reciprocation will be provided of traverse arm 10which, without modification of the rotation of shaft '17, would be ofconstantly varying character during either cycle thereof, the speed ofmovement at the center of the stroke being high and at the ends of thestroke being low.

In combination with this structure we employ a drive comprising a pairof eccentrically disposed shafts 18 and 19, said shafts having cranks 20and 21 respectively.' Said cranks 20 and 21 have a connection generallydesignated at 22 which is slidable on one crank-and fixed on the other,said connection, because of the eccentricity of these shafts, causing anintermittent rotary motionof the driven shaft 19 as a result of auniform rotary motion of the driving shaft 18. By properly proportioningthe eccentricity of these shafts and the effective length of the crankbearing the fixed element of the connection, the motion of shaft 19 canbe made to substantially exactly offset the variation in timing producedby the rotation of the crank 16 through either cycle of its rotation.Having obtained this result, it is simply necessary that the rotation ofshaft 19 be transmitted to the shaft 17 at the proportion of tworotations of shaft 19 to one rotation of shaft 17. For this reason,one-to-two gearing is interposed between the shafts 19 and 17 asindicated at 23, thus providing correction for both cycles of rotationof crank 16. This oneto-two gearing may, obviously, be disposed at anypoint in the chain of connections between shaft 19 and shaft 17, but itis preferred that this gearing incorporate a pinion 19-a on the shaft 19and a gear 19b mounted on a stub shaft 19-0. The entire mechanism thusfar described may be very conveniently arranged within a sealed housingso that all portions thereof can operate in oil.

A structure of this character lends itself very readily to assembly andrepair. In the pin and slot connection between shafts 18 and 19 the pinmay be roller equipped as at 24 and the pin itself mounted for readyremoval and replacement as indicated at 25. The slot in which the pinoperates may be readily formed by equipping crank 21 with removable sideplates 26. Side plates 26 may constitute media for the support ofcounterweights 27. In inspecting Fig. 5, it will be obvious that ifrotation of crank 20 is in the direction of the arrow, the driving forcetransmitted through the connection is least when the cranks are alignedwith one another and directed to the right in this figure, and greatestwhen the arms are aligned with one another and directed to the left inthis figure. Counterweight 2'7 will, accordingly, act to assist drivingtransmission at the time when this driving force is the least and tooppose it when it is the greatest, thus smoothing to a certain extentthe otherwise uneven loads imposed upon operating motor 28.

Transmission from stub shaft 19'c to shaft 17 is preferably made by wayof an intermediate shaft 29 which may extend longitudinally of themachine and have driving connection with a plurality of the shafts 17,shaft 29 constituting the main drive shaft of the machine. Shaft 29,preferably, extends longitudinally of the upper end of a trough 30 inwhich the shafts 17 are mounted and at the bottoms of which bearings 11are mounted. By providing bearings 11 with packing glands 31 asillustrated, the scotch yoke mechanism may likewise be operated in oiland by covering the trough 30 as indicated at 32, the mechanism becomesparticularly well adapted for use in conjunction with the rayon spinningmachines hereinbefore referred to, due to the fact that all operatingmechanisms are encased and operating in oil, and are thus protected fromthe attacks of acids which lead to rapid deterioration of the mechanismsordinarily employed.

The scotch yoke mechanism employed is preferably constructed asillustrated more particularly in Figs. 2, 3 and.4. A guide 33 is securedto the bottom of trough 30 in which the yoke 12 operates. The yokecomprises a block 34 vertically reciprocable in this guide and to whichthe upper end of the transverse arm 10 is rigidly secured. The securingmeans 35 for the arm perferably proengaging the block. Employing thisconstruction,

it is possible to adjust the effective length of the crank 16 and thuspermit adaptation of the drive for traverse motions of differentlengths. The apparatus is, thus, again particularly adapted for use inconjunction with rayon spinning machines in which the same type ofspinning machine is equipped with spinning pots of different depthsdepending upon the particular size of cake which the user desires toproduce.

Since the construction is, obviously, capable of considerablemodification without in any manner departing from the spirit of ourinvention, we do not wish to be understood as limiting ourselves theretoexcept as hereinafter claimed.

We claim: I

1. In a traverse mechanism, a traverse arm, a rotatable shaft, a scotchyoke connection between said shaft and arm, means to rotate said shaftcomprising a pair of eccentrically disposed shafts each having a crankand a pin andslot connection between the cranks of said shafts, and adriving connection between the driven shaft of said pair and saidrotatable shaft whereby the rotatable shaft is rotated once for each tworevolutions of the driven shaft of the pair.

2. In a traverse mechanism, a traverse arm and means to drive said armcomprising a crank, a pair of eccentrically disposed shafts and aconnection between said eccentrically disposed shafts comprising a pairof cranks, a member fixed to one of said cranks and slidable upon theother thereof, said pair of shafts and said drive crank being arrangedin series and a connection therebetween for rotating the drive crankfrom and once for each two revolutions of the shaft of the driven crankof said pair.

3. In a traverse mechanism, a traverse arm and means to drive said armcomprising a scotch yoke, a pair of eccentrically disposed shafts and aconnection between said eccentrically disposed shafts comprising a pairof cranks and a member fixed to one of said cranks and slidable upon theother thereof, said pair of shafts and said scotch yoke being arrangedin series, the connection between the scotch yoke and the driven shaftof said pair comprising means driving the operating member of the yokeonce for each two revolutions of the driven shaft of the pair.

4. In atraverse mechanism, a traverse arm, a rotatable shaft, a.scotchyoke connection between said shaft and arm, means to rotate said shaft,said means comprising a pair of eccentrically disposed shafts eachhaving a crank and a pin and slot connection between the cranks of saidshafts, means driving the operating member of the yoke from the drivenshaft of the pair and once for each two revolutions of said drivenshaft, .said scotch yoke connection comprising a member of adjustableeccentricity whereby to permit adjustment of the stroke of the traversearm.

5. In a traverse mechanism, a traverse arm, a rotatable shaft, a scotchyoke connection between said shaft and arm, means to rotate said shaftcomprising a pair of eccentrically disposed shafts each having a crankand a pin and slot connection between the cranks of said shafts, meansdriving the operating member of the yoke from the driven shaft of thepair and once for each two revolutions of said driven shaft, a coveredtrough enclosing said rotatable shaft, the scotch yoke connection andthe upper end of said arm, and a bearing for the arm in the bottom ofsaid trough and including a packing gland whereby said shaft and thescotch yoke connection may be operated in a lubricating bath.

6. In a traverse mechanism, a traverse arm, a rotatable shaft, a scotchyoke connection be tween said shaft and arm, a drive for said shaftcomprising crank means constructed and arranged to produce a variablerotary motion which when impressed upon either cycle of operation ofsaid scotch yoke connection through said rotatable shaft will produceuniform motion of said traverse arm, and a one-to-two gearing connectingsaid crank means and said shaft.

7. In a traverse mechanism, a traverse arm, a rotatable shaft, a scotchyoke connection between said shaft and arm, and a drive for said shaftcomprising crank means constructed and arranged to produce a variablerotary motion which when impressed upon either cycle of operation ofsaid scotch yoke connection through said rotatable shaft will produceuniform motion of said traverse arm.

8. In a traverse mechanism, a traverse arm, a rotatable shaft, a scotchyoke connection between said shaft and arm, means to rotate said shaftcomprising a pair of eccentrically disposed shafts each having a crankand a pin and slotconnection between the cranks of said shafts,counterweight means arranged to assist rotation when the leverage ratiobetween said shafts is high and oppose rotation when leverage ratio islow, and a driving connection between the driven shaft of said pair andsaid rotatable shaft whereby the rotatable shaft is rotated once foreach two revolutions of the driven shaft of the pair.

9. In a traverse mechanism, a traverse arm and means to drive said armcomprising a scotch yoke, a pair of eccentrically disposed shafts and aconnection between said eccentrically disposed shafts comprising a pairof cranks and a member fixed to one of saidcranks and slidable upon theother thereof, said pair of shafts and said scotch yoke being arrangedin series, and counterweight means arranged to assist rotation when theleverage ratio between said shafts is high and oppose rotation whenleverage ratio is low, the connection between the scotch yoke and thedriven shaft of said pair comprising means driving the operating memberof the yoke once'for each two revolutions of the driven shaft of thepair.

10. In a traverse mechanism, a traverse arm, a rotatable shaft, a scotchyoke connection between said shaft and arm, a drive for said shaftcomprising a pair of shafts and variable leverage means constructed andarranged to produce a variable motion which when impressed upon eithercycle of operation of said scotch yoke connection through said rotatableshaft will produce uniform motion of said traverse arm, and a oneto-twogearing connecting the driven shaft of said pair and the first-namedshaft.

11. ha traverse mechanism, a traverse arm, a rotatable shaft, a scotchyoke connection between said shaft and arm, and a drive for said shaftcomprising a pair of shafts and variable leverage means constructed andarranged to produce a variable motion which when impressed upon eithercycle of operation of said scotch yoke connection through said rotatableshaft will produce' uniform motion of said traverse arm.

12. In a traverse mechanism, a traverse arm, a rotatable shaft, a scotchyoke connection between said shaft and arm, a drive for said shaftcomprising a pair of shafts and variable leverage means constructed andarranged to produce a variable motion which when impressed upon eithercycle of operation of said scotch yoke connection through said rotatableshaft will produce uniform motion of said traverse arm, a one-totwogearing connecting-the driven shaft of said pair and the first-namedshaft, and counterweight means arranged to' assist rotation whenthe'leverage ratio between said shafts is high and oppose rotation whenleverage ratio is low.

13. In a traverse mechanism, a traverse arm, a rotatable shaft, a scotchyoke connection between said shaft and arm, a drive for said shaftcomprising a pair of shafts and variable leverage means constructed andarranged to produce a variable rotary motion which when impressed uponeither cycle of operation of said scotch yoke connection through saidrotatable shaft will produce uniform motion of said traverse arm, andcounterweight means arranged to assist rotation when the leverage ratiobetween said shafts is high and oppose rotation when leverage ratio islow.

HARRY W. BU'I'IERWORTH, JR. JOHN JOSEPH SIPPEL.

